The Virgin of the Pine

Today our island celebrates one of it's most significant religious Catholic holidays "Dia de la Virgin del Pino" (Day of the Virgin of the  Pine).

What is this holiday?
The Virgin of the Pine is the patron saint of the island of Gran Canaria. She is an idol that represents health and prosperity to the island. 

Yesterday  many people presented offerings in the  small town of Teror to Nuestra Señora del Pino   (Our Lady of the Pines).  Today they will parade the image, alter, and offerings through the streets of Teror. They will pray to her and ask her for health and wellness for the future year.  On Saturday, they will have a very large party  and festival to celebrate the "Virgin of the Pine."


These islands, although known as  catholic, believe very strongly in their idols. Most villages and towns have some form of Mary or another "saint" that they have a statue of and bring offerings to at different times of the years. This particular day is just the most widely celebrated of them all.

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Exodus 20:4&5

You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,

We ask that you take time to pray for our island:

1) That the truth and the light of the Gospel will be revealed to each person on our island.

2) That there will be a spiritual awakening.

3) That there will be such a hunger for the true presence of God that there will be revival here on our island!

4) For each Christian to be bold in their faith to be able to  proclaim the Gospel.


5) That people would know that there is no power for Salvation in  any other name than the name  of Jesus.

What is the history behind this holiday?

The  Virgen del Pino   (or "Virgin of the Pine") is the patron of the  Gran Canaria    (province of  Las Palmas,  Canary Islands). The Gran Canaria virgin was declared patroness of the Gran Canaria.

The story of  Nuestra Señora del Pino   (Our Lady of the Pine) is as follows. At the site of the present-day Basilica, the image of the virgin herself is said to have appeared in a pine tree on 8 September 1481 to some shepherds and to the first Bishop of Gran Canaria, Juan Frías. Said to possess healing qualities, Nuestra Señora del Pino has become the patron saint of the island.  The small town of Teror, with its sanctuary and sight of her appearance, became the religious capital of the island. 

Every year, on 8th September, the Fiesta de la Virgen del Pino   (Feast of Our Lady of the Pines) is celebrated and numerous pilgrims from all over the island come to Teror to pay reverence to the saint. This feast is not only the biggest event in the region – it is also the most important religious festival on the island’s calendar and the celebrations usually go on for one week.
(http://www.basilicadelpino.es/festividad2014/historia.html)